Cafe Tango is divine! Only about 8 tables in the place and the food is fabulous. Think Pistachio crusted grouper - shrimp on top - mashed potatoes... yummy. I'm going on Friday night and my mouth is already watering. It's in Grayton Beach.

bud & alley's in seaside, good food and a great beachside setting.

You have to go to McGuire's Irish Pub on HWY 98 before you go over the bridge to Ft. Walton. They smoke their own meat on the premises and the shrimp broil on the top deck is awesome.

Stinky's Fishcamp - don't let the name fool you. We have been vacationing down there for years and have tried all the restuarnts on 30A - Stinky's is by far the best. Pretty sure they are cash only.

http://www.stinkysfishcamp.com/stinkysfishcamp/default.htm

Hit Great Southern in Seaside. Be sure to get the Shrimp and Grits. I have dreams about that dish.

Well, aren't you in luck. Just so happens I worked based in Destin for most of the last five years. Anyhoo, if you miss going to the Donut Hole (one in downtown Destin and another on 98 in Walton County going towards 30A/Seaside--you can't miss it), I will have you shot. Not only the best donuts, but the best egg salad sandwich. Bring me back a key lime filled donut, mmkay?

I didn't spend a lot of time down in Seaside, but I have heard good things about Cafe Tango, Goatfeathers, and Elmo's. I liked Grecian Gardens, but you know I don't eat seafood. Be prepared that in season, menu prices are pretty high. Avoid the local chain of Pompano Joe's, Back Porch, etc etc. It's okay, but not worth the money or the wait. Go to the little places and stay on 30A. Except Donut Hole. You must go to Donut Hole!

ps--if you do go to downtown Destin, go to Gilligan's for seafood. The Momster loves that place and it's right by the marina.

Here are a few more favorites:

Seagrove Market - we usually hit Seagrove Market our first night after driving in for grouper sandwiches - kid friendly:

http://www.villagemarketcafe.com/

Angelina's for basic Italian and Pizza - huge portions - leftover calzone makes a great lunch on the beach the next day - kid friendly:

Angelina's Pizzeria & Pasta
4005 E County Highway 30A
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
(850) 231-2500‎

D&K's Cafe in Grayton Beach for great views and the best Key Lime pie on 30A - make reservations:

D & K's Cafe
63 Hotz Avenue Grayton Beach, FL
(850) 231-0455

and of course Red Bar - funky, soulful and great smoked Tuna dip and blackened grouper - get there early and they are cash only, too - kid friendly:

http://www.theredbar.com/

In Destin, you must go to the Copper Grill. Not only are the steaks and seafood wonderful, but they have an award-winning Caesar salad that is truly the best anywhere.

You have to go to breakfast one morning at the Hibiscus Cafe/Bed and Breakfast. They have by far the best breakfast, and the best part is that it's organic and mostly vegetarian! Even if you're a meat lover, the Wheat Biscuits and Soysauge Gravy will have you coming back for more!

Basmati's is delish.
Cafe Tango is swell too.
Goatfeather's is good, but u-gly! Their fish market is excellent.
Red Bar great. Watch of for sandflies in Grayton.

I second Goatfeathers, Donut Hole, and Tango. Bud & Alley's is a Seaside institution- the fresh tuna melt is to die for. Also love:

*Hurricane Oyster Bar, 850.231.0787, Grayton Beach (really good fresh oysters and cold beer)

*Borago, 850.231.9167, 80 E Scenic 30-A Grayton Beach, FL (casual atmosphere but high-end Italian)

*Cafe Thirty-A, 850-231-2166, 3899 E County Hwy 30-A, Seagrove, FL (Former home of Radius 10 Chef Brumm)

*Another Broken Egg, 850.231.7835, 51 Uptown Grayton Circle Grayton Beach, FL (great new breakfast spot with good "skillet" breakfasts)

If you make it to Destin, I recommend Harbor Docks for some great seafood and an amazing view of the harbor/boats.

have fun and eat as much fresh seafood as you can get your hands on.

I second Stinky's; we've been down twice this season and it was great both times. They now take plastic as well.

Don't waste your time eating at Bud & Alley's. It's great for a drink with a view but it beyond overpriced and just isn't that good anymore.

Check out www.chowhound.com and search Destin/Seaside for other food conversation boards....great site. Enjoy!

Fine dining at Crilla's between Destin and Seaside. There is also a new "Commander's Palace" in Destin but I want someone else to try it out first to report whether it maintains the standards of the New Orleans original.

Misspelled in last post. Criolla's.

I'm headed that way this week too, and will take this list with me. However, I was wondering: Can anyone suggest places to stop on the way?
Say, in Montgomery or something?
Thanks!

Seagrove Market a must for fish sandwiches, fried or grilled. There is seating inside, but also those retro concrete tables Bobbie's used to have outside. I have not eaten in the Goatfeather's restaurant closer to Blue Mountain, but I load up on fresh caught shrimp at Goatfeathers Market, the small satelitte shop in Seagrove and steam up a ton to keep in the fridge, throw in pasta or salads, make sandwhiches, etc. The piza place beside Publix on 395, Pizza by the Sea, got thumbs up from kids and grown-ups. Second the motion on Hurricane's Oyster Bar in Grayton and there is some Nashville connection, though I forget what. Borago in Grayton is good, and Johnny Gray's Criolla made Grayton a dining destination. Cafe 30A always good, as noted Chef Brumm came from there. After that, he was atupscale, excellent (and pricey) Fish Out of Water in Watercolors. Cafe Rendez-vous Wine Bar on the mall in Seaside is the only thing that will get me to go to Seaside. Adults only, love love love it there. Owned by a Frenchman and his jeweler wife. Last time I went to Red Bar--and it pains me to say this in light of my longtime crush on Ollie, the Belgian Elvis--the food was literally inedible. Doubly painful after a 90 minute wait. Horrid wine. And remember, cash only. On the other hand, another good wine bar in Rosemary Beach, Courtyard Wine & Cheese, as well as a lovely (adults only again) chef-owned Italian place, Onano. Angelina's on 30A and Cafe Spiazzia in Seaside good kid friendly italian-american. A new taco bar in Seaside too. Stinky Fish yes! Finally, Scott Alderson was supposed to have his place open by now. I will contact him and let you know what I find out.

Holy cow, Kay. Thanks—I would always read your Destin-area pieces and fantasize, and now that I'm going I can finally use them. Red Bar was a bit of a disappointment when we went last year, so we'll skip that.

Should I stop in Andalusia on the way for a Dean's caramel cake? We drove around an hour last year looking for the place to bring you back a slice, and we arrived to find it was closed that day.

Scott Alderson's place is on Hwy. 98, Santa Rosa Beach, all you want to know is jambone.net

also, Donut Hole a big yes. I wrote about that place years ago, we used to go there for lunch if we arrived before check-in time. love it. Pickles in Seaside is a kidmagnet, but we--kids and grown-ups-were very disappointed. how do you screw up a hot dog? The Airstream ice cream stand across 30A is irresisitable though.

Dean's Cakes is a must stop, though closed on Sunday and Monday. When you get off 65 at exit 114 Goergiana, then you're taking 55 towards Florala, which makes me happy just to say, on the main 4-way drag through Andalusia you just have to look for the billboard that says Dean's Cakes Turn Left with a big arrow. I think the street passes by a fast food place. You'll turn left, and go up a hill. Cinder block building at top. There's a 5-layer Caramel cake, but don't be silly, go for the 9. You can see them baking throug the glass. Each layer is individually made, not made and sliced in half. They actually freeze very well. As if.
Also, cannot recommend enough renting bikes for you and little pinks. Best way to get around. Very standard, one speed with real brakes! You can call either Big Fish Bikes (850-231-1343) and they will deliver bikes to your condo/house, or Butterfly Bikes is right there in Seagrove, beside the strip center with the pizza place and video store (parent trap!) Grayton Corner Cafe, across the road from Red Bar, used to be a fave. It burned up, then was rebuilt. At some point--pre-burn maybe---Chef Joe Shaw cooked there. The last time I was down i didn't get a chance to go, but it looked promising once again. Shaw also cooked for his friend George Barnes, who has a cute cafe in Blue Mountain called Smiling Fish Cafe. Lunch only. There is a funky little place in Blue Mountain, owned by a Louisiana guy, does po boys and cold beer. Maybe Blu Lagoon? Monica Holmes from Clean Plate Club loves it. That's a mighty fine recomendation.

Kay, it's Blue Orleans - another favorite breakfast spot for us:

2260 W County Highway 30a
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
850-622-1909

It IS Blue Orleans! Ding ding ding..thank you. And it's really good, not sure about beer for breakfast but what the hey, you're on vacation.

Wasn't Blue Lagoon the horrid movie with Brooke Sheilds and the blonde guy Leif something?

Christopher Atkins. I'm so sorry to admit I know that.

I'm headed that way this week too, and will take this list with me. However, I was wondering: Can anyone suggest places to stop on the way?
Say, in Montgomery or something?

Ola, Green Fairy! Nice to see you again. Found this map of must-eat Alabama BBQ places on the Southern BBQ Trail site:

http://www.southernbbqtrail.com/map_AL.shtml#

Then here's that list of the 100 Best Dishes in Alabama that the Huntsville Times posted, arranged by town:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/438716

That'll get you started.